Handle for suitcases and the like



E. c. HORSTMAN. HANDLE FOR SUITCASES AND- THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 2. 1916.

Patented June 8, 1920.

I/VI/EA/TOB.

I I I l I l I l I l I I I 1 ATTORNEY,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HANDLE FOR SUITCASES AND THE LIKE.

Application filed October 2, 1916.

T0 aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it .known that 1,.EDWARD C. Hons'r- MAN, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at St. Louis, State of Missouri, have invented certainnew and useful Improvements in Handles for Suitcases and the like, ofwhich the following is a specification.

My invention relates to handles, and more particularly to handles forsuit-cases, satchels, and like articles.

The object of my invention is to provide a grip portion of a handle witha metallic reinforcement terminating in hooked ends adapted to passthrough the ears of the handle.

A further object of the invention is to provide a metallic reinforcementfor handles terminating in hooked ends for connecting ears with the endsof the grip portion of the handle.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in thespecial features of construction, arrangement and combination of parts,as will be more fully described hereinafter, and finally pointed out inthe claims hereto appended.

Referring to the accompanying drawings forming a part of thisspecification wherein like characters of reference denote similar partsthroughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a plan view of one form of my improved handle attached tothe wall of a suit-case.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view thereof.

Fig. 3 is a detail in perspective of one of the hooked ends of themetallic reinforcing element.

Fig. 4 is a detail in perspective of one of the hooked ends of thereinforcing element as it appears connected to one of the ears.

Fig. 5 is a view partly in sectional elevation of the modified form ofmy improved handle.

Fig. 6 is a plan view thereof.

Referring to the drawings, reference character 1 designates the wall ofa suitcase, or other valise; 2 designates the usual keepers for holdingthe ears of the handle to the wall of the suit-case or other valise.

In accordance with my invention the grip portion of the handle isprovided with a sheet or rod metallic reinforcement which is extended atits ends to form hooks adapted to pass through the ears of the handle,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 8, 1920.

Serial No. 123,219.

and for this purpose the handle as a whole is constructed, as follows:

In carrying out the aim of my invention, I employ a metallic reinforcingelement 3 preferably, although not necessarily, of a resilient orelastic nature. The reinforcing element 3 is preferably arched, as shownin Fig. 2, and terminates at each end in a longitudinally disposedhooked end 4. Each hooked end 4 is adapted to pass vertically through alaminated or solid ear 5, and the parallel walls of the hooked ends 4.-are adapted to engage the lower and upper surfaces of the ears 5,connecting the ears 5, when formed independently of the handle proper,to the ends of the grip portion of the handle, as clearly shown in Fig.2.

The grip portion of the handle which is arched as usual in handleconstructions comprises abody portion consisting preferably of smallpieces of cardboard or similar fibrous filling 6 pressed together andadapted to surround the arched portion of the reinforcing element 3.This filling 6'is confined with a fabric casing 7, which casingterminates at each end in an ear 8 which is preferably tacked, as at 9,to the lower wall 10 of the hooked ends 4 and to the ears 5 to preventthe filling from any cause from working out through the ends of thecasing 7.

If desired, the filling 6 which is preferably composed of small piecesof cardboard or similar fibrous material pressed into form, may be madeinto a pulp 'and pressed, molded, or otherwise formed around the archedportion of the reinforcing element 3.

It will be understood from the drawings that the upper wall 11 of thehooked ends 4 are held in engagement with the under face of the keepers2, and preferably, although not necessarily, project into the handleproper, as clearly shown in Fig. 2, thus obviating the necessity ofemploying rivets or similar fastening devices for holding the upper wallof the hooked ends in engagement with the upper face of the reinforcedlaminated or solid ears 5. The hooked ends 4 serve to reinforce the ears5, and particularly reinforce the handle at thejunction of the ears withthe handle. It will be observed that the heavier the load upon thehandle the more tightly the upper wall of the hooked ends 4 grip theupper surface of the ears 5 and the inner face of the keepers 2.

tion of. the hooked ends 4: and the arched portion thereof of a part ofthe load strain on the handle at said junction points of the reinforcingelement.

Referring to the modification shown in Figs. 5 and 6 it will be observedthat the reinforcing element 3 is in the form of a rod or wire. Theupper portion 13 of the body of the handle proper terminates in an ear14 at each end of the handle, thereby forming ears integral with thehandle. This portion 13 of the handle may be of a laminated material orsolid, as may be desired. The under portion of the handle is filled witha suitable filler 6, as described in Fig. 2.

From the foregoing description it will be understood that I have formeda handle which is comparatively cheap in manufacture, neat inappearance, resilient in construction, strong, durable, and, at the sametime, easy to assemble, the whole being made practically fromthe wastematerials of various industries.

I am aware that various slight changes as to proportions, shape andsimilar minor details of construction may be made, hence I do not wishto be limited to the exact details of construction illustrated, butreserve the right to make any such changes as may fairly fall within thescope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit or scopeof my invention.

What I claim is:

l. A handle comprising a grip portion, a pair of ears, a keeper spanningeach car, a reinforcing element passing through the gripportion of thehandle and terminating in hooked ends, a filler surrounding thereinforcing element at the grip portion of the handle, said hookedendsbeing adapted to pass upwardly through said ears, and the upper fold ofthe hooked ends being adapted to pass under said keepers and be held inengagement with the upper face of said ears.

2. As an article of manufacture, a handle, ears for said handle, afabric casing for said handle, a metallic reinforcing element having anarched portion running through and concealed in said'handle, a hookformed at each end of said reinforcing element and integral therewithadapted to be connected to said ears by passing upwardly through thesame and one fold thereof adapted to engage the upper face of the ears,and keepers spanning said ears and said upper folds of the metallicreinforcing element, said keepers adapted to be fixed to a wall of asuit-case or other article.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name to thespecification.

EDWARD C. HORSTMAN.

